The new Šumperk bus station will open to the public in January

Šumperk – In Šumperk, builders are completing a modern bus station for 170 million crowns. Only the final finishing works and tests remain until the end of the year. The operation of the bus station will return to its original location almost exactly one year after operating at a temporary site. The first bus from the new station will depart on Monday, January 18, 2021, said the city hall spokesperson Soňa Singerová.

"I would like to thank all the citizens of the city and travelers for their patience. I am aware that the temporary bus station has been a burden for passengers and the surrounding traffic. Therefore, I am very glad that we can return from the provisional site after a year. Despite the restrictions associated with the epidemic, we managed to fulfill the original plan and complete the reconstruction of the bus station, including the construction of a parking lot and a bike tower, still in 2020," said the mayor of Šumperk, Tomáš Spurný.

The reconstruction of the bus station included the construction of a new dispatch building, the ground floor of which is designated for the public. Passengers will be able to use the waiting room, information office, and social facilities here. The interior spaces are air-conditioned and covered by a Wi-Fi signal. The rest of the building will house facilities for drivers and station management. "The bus stop shelters have green roofs with extensive plantings. The vegetation, approximately 60 centimeters tall, which is an intensive type of green roof, is at the city public transport stop with the city logo," described the city hall spokesperson.

Experts are now completing the final work on-site, installing and testing information, camera, and safety systems, and preparing logistics coordination on the platforms. At the beginning of next week, a statue of Mercury, the protector of travelers, will be placed in the prepared structure, the spokesperson added. The entire station will be barrier-free, travelers will have access to Wi-Fi, which will be part of the free city Wi-Fi hotspot network, smart benches will complement the furniture, and smart lamps that respond to movement will illuminate the platforms. There will also be a sophisticated information system for travelers.

The area near the train station has also undergone extensive reconstruction. A parking lot for passenger cars, a bike tower for 118 bikes, and a bus lay-by have been created here.

The original bus station in Šumperk was built in 1973. The preparation for the current reconstruction began in 2014. Construction started in May 2019. In mid-January of this year, the station operation was moved to Jeremenková and Fialová streets, and the traffic regime also had to be changed around the temporary platforms.